Battery package with removable voltage indicator means

• US 5,188,231 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Duracell Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tittel, Lorne, Kivell, Larry, Kiernan, Charles E., Milanese, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US07/708,324
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 206/328, 206/333, 206/459, 324/104
• US Class Current: 206/705
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/88 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/36 one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages , the recess or recesses being preformed B65D73/0057, B65D73/0092 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/54 Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories opening devices B65D75/70

Abstract

The present invention is a package for the sale and display of batteries having a voltage indicator integrally associated with the package. A pair of electrical contacts are associated with the voltage indicator and the contacts are so positioned on the package that they are accessible for alignment with the terminals of a battery placed therebetween. When the electrical contacts make simultaneous connection to the terminals of a battery, current flows through the voltage indicator to visually indicate the magnitude of the voltage of the battery.

Claims

1. A package for the sale and display of batteries and a voltage tester associated with and removable from the package comprising a holding means for holding at least one battery and the voltage tester in side-by side arrangement;

said tester comprising a receptacle and a voltage indicator means integrally associated therewith, said receptacle having two end portions, a front wall portion and two side wall portions connected between said end portions so that said receptacle has an open back, and said indicator means comprising a pair of electrical contacts positioned for alignment with the terminals of a battery placed in the receptacle.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the voltage indicator means comprises a thermochromic material.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the thermochromic material is selected from the group consisting of liquid crystals and thermochromic inks.

4. A blister card package for the sale and display of batteries and a voltage tester removable from said package, said package comprising a backing member and a bubble member attached thereto and adapted to hold at least one battery and the voltage tester therebetween in side-by-side arrangement, said voltage tester comprising a receptacle shaped for closely holding a single battery therein and a voltage indicating strip attached to a surface of the receptacle, wherein said receptacle comprises two end portions and a rounded wall portion connected therebetween in such a manner that the combination has an open back for inserting a battery therein, and said voltage indicating strip has a pair of electrical contacts disposed so as to make electrical contact to the terminals of a battery placed in the receptacle, whereby, when the electrical contacts make simultaneous connection to the terminals of a battery, current will flow through the voltage indicating strip to visually indicate the magnitude of the voltage of the battery.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the voltage indicating strip is comprised of a substrate having a middle portion, a first end portion and a second end portion;

and a resistive element located on one side of the middle portion and connected to the pair of electrical contacts wherein one electrical contact is located on each end portion;

wherein the length of the strip is sufficient for the contact on the first end portion to connect to one terminal of a battery while the contact on the second end portion connects to the other terminal of the battery; and

wherein a layer of thermochromic material is in thermal contact with the resistive element.

6. The package of claim 4 wherein at least two batteries and the tester are held in side by side arrangement so that the tester is between the two batteries.

7. The package of claim 4 wherein at least two batteries and the tester are held with one battery being inside the tester and said battery filled tester is in side-by-side arrangement with the other battery.

8. A blister card package for the sale and display of batteries and a voltage tester removable from said package, said package comprising a backing member and a bubble member attached thereto and adapted to hold at least one battery and the voltage tester therebetween in side-by-side arrangement, said voltage tester comprising a receptacle shaped for closely holding a single battery therein and a voltage indicating strip attached to a surface of the receptacle;

said voltage indicating strip comprising a substrate, a resistive element located on one side of the substrate, a thermochromic material located on the opposite side of the substrate in thermal contact with the resistive element, and a pair of electrical contacts disposed so as to make electrical contact to the terminals of a battery placed in the receptacle, and wherein said strip is attached to the inside surface of the receptacle with said thermochromic material facing the inside surface of the receptacle;

whereby, when the electrical contacts make simultaneous connection to the terminals of a battery, current will flow through the voltage indicating strip to visually indicate the magnitude of the voltage of the battery.

9. A package for the sale and display of batteries and a voltage tester removable from said package, said package comprising a holding means adapted to hold at least one battery and the voltage tester therebetween in side-by-side arrangement, said voltage tester comprising a receptacle shaped for closely holding a single battery therein and a voltage indicating strip attached to a surface of the receptacle, wherein said receptacle is a battery shaped, open-ended cylinder and a battery is contained within the cylinder, and wherein said indicating strip comprises a pair of electrical contacts adapted to make electrical contact to the terminals of the contained battery, whereby, when the electrical contacts make simultaneous connection to the terminals of the contained battery, current will flow through the voltage indicating strip to visually indicate the magnitude of the voltage of the battery.

10. A blister card package for the sale and display of batteries and a voltage tester removable from said package, said package comprising a backing member and a bubble member attached thereto and adapted to hold at least one battery and the voltage tester therebetween, said voltage tester comprising a receptacle shaped for closely holding a single battery therein and a voltage indicating strip attached to a surface of the receptacle and having a pair of electrical contacts disposed so as to make electrical contact to the terminals of a battery placed in the receptacle, whereby, when the electrical contacts make simultaneous connection to the terminals of a battery, current will flow through the voltage indicating strip to visually indicate the magnitude of the voltage of the battery;

wherein at least two batteries and the tester are held in the package with one battery being inside the tester and said battery filled tester is in side-by-side arrangement with the other battery, and further comprising at least one insulating means located between one battery terminal and the electrical contact of the voltage tester juxtaposed thereto.